Transfer by Zelensky to Biden of list of Ukrainians detained by Russia inspires hope that at least one can be released – MP

KYIV. Sept 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President Volodymyr Zelensky’s transfer to his American counterpart Joseph Biden of a list of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by Russia in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea, inspires hope that at least one of them will be released in the near future," chairman of the parliamentary committee on human rights, deoccupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories Dmytro Lubynets said.

"For me it was […] a very correct humanitarian signal – the transfer of the list of our 450 citizens detained by the Russian Federation […] I perceive this step as a new stage in the process of releasing our citizens illegally detained by the Kremlin […].I would very much like that after the transfer of the lists in the near future, we get at least some of these people from the list, who will return to their homeland, Ukraine," Lubynets told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday, September 2.

At the same time, the MP said that it is still unclear how the U.S. will help release the citizens of Ukraine.

"But believe me, as a person who knows how to prepare diplomatic meetings, the transfer of lists was discussed in advance. Accordingly, the U.S. has already talked something over, in advance, perhaps even with the authorities of the Russian Federation," the head of the committee said.

Lubynets attributes the fact of the Ukrainian president’s meeting with Biden to the positive results of Zelensky’s visit to the U.S.

"Already this [meeting] is a signal of political support from [U.S.] of our country", the MP said.

Lubynets also considers the results of the talks to be important – an increase in financial assistance to Ukraine and negotiations on the purchase of weapons, including the Javelins.

"As a majoritarian from Donetsk region, as the head of the committee responsible for the occupied territories, I’m on the disengagement line every month. So, the military says that the presence of anti-tank missiles, defense systems is a guarantee that there will be no escalation, no offensive. According to combat officers, it is enough to stop the first one-two tanks to choke the whole attack […] And when the Russian troops in Donbas will understand that we have a lot of Javelins – modern anti-tank missile systems – it will be a guarantee that no activity, so to say, will be in the breakthroughs," Lubynets said.